Duke of Edinburgh Opens Maritime Firm's New Liverpool Office
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh opened Brookes Bell's new Liverpool office on Thursday 24 September, unveiling a plaque at No 10 Princes Dock on Princes Parade. The visit formed part of two days of engagements across Merseyside focused on the region's maritime establishments, according to Royal Central.
The Duke was accompanied by Peter Oliver, Lord-Lieutenant of Merseyside, the monarch's personal representative in the county, Hazel Snell, High Sheriff of Merseyside, holder of an historic county office, and Councillor William Shorthall, Lord Mayor of Liverpool. The three civic guests joined him for the plaque unveiling at the waterfront building. Short sentences carry the formalities here. Names, office, plaque.
Brookes Bell is an international maritime consultancy, a firm that advises shipowners, insurers and lawyers on safety, engineering and casualties at sea. It was founded in Liverpool in 1903 and has been based in the city for more than 120 years. The firm published its own account under the title "The Duke of Edinburgh Opens Brookes Bell's New Liverpool Office", dated 24 September 2026, according to Brookes Bell.
The Court Circular, the official daily record of working royal engagements, recorded that the Duke visited Brookes Bell at Walker House, Exchange Flags, Liverpool that morning. The Royal Diary had listed the same Walker House address in advance for 24 September 2026. The most recently published account places the new office and the plaque at No 10 Princes Dock, Princes Parade.
The Duke holds the title of Master of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners, the City of London livery company for the seafaring profession. A livery company is a historic trade association with a modern charitable and professional role. The mastership gives the Duke a direct working link to shipping, which fits a Merseyside programme built around docks, firms and maritime skills.
What makes this stand out is continuity on the waterfront. A company started in Edwardian Liverpool still works from the city, now from Princes Dock, and its opening was entered line by line in the royal record. For Liverpool readers, this means a familiar name stays put. For everyone else, it is a small, exact piece of royal work: arrive, unveil, record.
